Flash-light apparatus



May 13 '1924.

J. WEISS FLASH LIGHT APPARATUS" Filed Jan. 4. 1923 .1 awuwntoz M07770 Wm M w Gum n a Patented May 13, 1924.

NITED STATES JEROME WEISS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FLASH-LIGHT APPARATUS.

Application filed January 4, 1923. Serial No. 610,579.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEROME lVnIss, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flash Light Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved flashlight device for use by photographers when taking pictures under circumstances or at times when natural light is not available or is insufficient for the purpose.

The invention relates more particularly to a flashlight device of the type in which ordinary percussion matches are used for the igniting of the flashlight powder.

The object of the invention is to provide a flashlight device adapted to be manufactured at low cost, and simple and eflicient in operation and construction. Vvith these and other objects in view, my invention is embodied in a flashlight device constructed and arranged as hereinafter set forth and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a flashlight device embodying my invention, with parts omitted and broken away.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of my improved flashlight device with parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the device looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral 5 denotes the flashlight pan, which may be made of any suitable material, such as sheet metal, and which is adapted to receive the flashlight powder. The pan 5 is centrally thereof formed, bent or otherwise provided with a recessed portion forming an ignition pocket 7. To the rear the pan is formed with an upstanding wall v6.

The pan may be suitably secured to a handle 8 for operating the device. In the present instance the pan is secured to the handle by a bolt 9 secured with a nut 10. The "plan and the handle are further provided with a match opening 11, and a spring 12 is pivoted on the bolt 9 and is adapted to be swung into or out of register with the match opening by moving said spring to either side on the said bolt 9.

In alinement with the match opening 11 there is rotatably mounted a shaft 13 within the handle 8. The shaft projectsabove the pan 5 and carries at its upper end a match igniting element such as a toothed sector 14 which rotates with the shaft.

The handle 8 is provided with a recess 15 near the bottom of the shaft 13. An operating arm 16 is inserted or otherwise secured to the shaft, and is adapted to move or swing in said recess 15. The arm 16 is actuated by a string 17 which passes through a guide 18 in the shaft. 19 indicates the match to be ignited.

When using the device the operating arm 16 is moved into the position shown in the drawing and whereby the igniting element 14 is moved to one side of the match opening as shown in Figure 1.

An ordinary match of the percussion type is broken off to a suitable length and inserted in the match opening 11 with the match head abutting the sector 14, the spring ,12 being moved aside to permit of the insertion of the match, and again moved into position behind the match to press the latter against the sector 14. In this position and before the match is ignited, the match serves in a measure as a stop against accidental movement of the sector 14. The flashlight powder is then placed in the pan in the usual manner.

The match is ignited by the operator pulling downward on the string 17 thus moving the arm 16 from the front to the rear about ninety degrees towards the guide 18. The movement of the arm 16 rotates the shaft 13 and the sector 14, the latter igniting the match by friction produced by the teeth on said sector as will be understood. The flame from the match ignites the flashlight powder.

The device operates quickly and efliciently because of the suddenness with which the match is ignited due to the quick operation of the sector 14. Back flare is prevented by the walls surrounding the ignition pocket 7.

After use, the spring 12 is moved aside, the burnt match removed. The arm 16 is moved forward into position and the device is ready for further use.

The device is simple to make and operate and very eficient. Changes in the detailed mechanical construction and arrangement may of course be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. a

I claim 1. A flashlight device comprising a pan for receiving the flashlight powder and provided with an ignition pocket, a handle for said device, means for supporting a match in position to be ignited in said ignition pocket, a friction element for igniting said match, a shaft for operating said friction element, an arm for actuating said shaft and a string for operating the said arm.

2. A flashlight device comprising a handle, a flashlight powder receiving pan supported at the top of said handle, a shaft in the latter, a friction element secured to said shaft ii'ninediately above the said pan and adapted to operate in the latter, means for supporting a match in contact with said friction element and means for operating said shaft to actuate said friction element to ignite the said match.

JEROME WEISS. 

